Chapter 11-Hills and Valleys
It was nearly supper time and Kitty still hadn't been able to pinpoint the whereabouts of her husband. What made it even more odd was that no one seemed to know where he'd gone. As she mashed potatoes, her mind wandered to a dark place. She had tried to quash the notion that the date Sadie Danko had made reference to was none other than her husband. Sure, Kitty had snickered with Carol Gibbons when the experienced laundress pointed out the red lip paint on the collar of Matt's blue shirt. The same blue shirt he'd worn to go out on the town the night Festus had returned to the ranch sans the former marshal. Kitty had played along when Carol had made the inference that perhaps the former Long Branch owner occasionally dressed in costume to relive the good old days.
We used t' do that…Kitty reflected, continuing to mash the potatoes. She couldn't erase from her mind the cherry red hue of Sadie Danko's plump, bow-shaped lips.
"Chihuahua, señora," Luisa commented, sidling up next to the mistress of the house, "What did those poor papas ever do to you?" she nodded toward the mixing bowl.
"What?" Kitty despondently replied, pulling herself to the present. Realizing she'd beaten the potatoes into submission, she murmured, "Oh, I guess my mind was elsewhere."
Luisa took the bowl from Kitty, suggesting, "Why don't you gather los niños? Have them get ready for supper. Addie should be finishing setting the table."
"Perfect," the distracted redhead smiled as she wiped her hands with her apron.
She made her way upstairs, discovering Ezra and Scarlett in the playroom. Ezra wildly rocked on the giant, wooden rocking horse as if it were a bucking bronco. Scarlett danced in front of Doc, humming a made-up tune. Doc held Maggie upon his lap, the baby babbling, just like her old self.
"Well, it's my lucky day! I found four of you in one spot," she grinned, "Time t' get ready for supper. Doc, could ya please make sure these two wash their hands?"
"Of course," Doc answered, studying the babe in his arms, "You hear that, Maggie Lou? We're in charge a the rodeo star and the famous dancer." Looking up to ask Kitty a question, he was surprised that she'd already disappeared.
By the time Kitty had rounded up her children for supper, Matt had come home and assumed his seat at the head of the table.
"Well, look who's home," she grinned, kissing her husband's cheek before sitting next to him. She inwardly smiled when she hadn't been able to detect the smell of another woman on him.
"Hi, Honey. That's a nice welcome."
"Where ya been, Daddy?" Matthew asked as he spooned some corn onto his plate.
"Taking care of some ranch business," Matt responded, keeping his eyes focused on the platter of steaks he held, "Here, Kitty. You need t' eat this whole thing," he whispered, hoisting a large piece of meat onto her plate, "You're too tiny."
Adam reached for a biscuit across the table, proudly announcing, "Me, Mama and Addie took care a some business t'day, too."
"Don't reach, Son," Doc reprimanded, "Just ask and we'll pass it."
"Yes'sir. Can I have the biscuits, please?"
"May I?" Kitty reminded.
"Yes'm," he took the basket from his grandfather.
Matt engaged with Adam, grinning at the boy, "What business was that?"
"We went t' Rat Hole Alley."
"Rat Hole Alley?!" Matt nearly choked on his oversized bite of bread, "Kathleen, why would you go there?!" his blue eyes nearly bulged out of his head.
"Don't you 'Kathleen' me, Mr. Marshal. I can go wherever I want, whenever I want."
"Not with our children you can't," Matt's eyes narrowed, "Doc! How could you let her go t' Rat Hole Alley?! And alone?!"
"The hell I can't," the fiery redhead murmured, "Matt, I think you've forgotten exactly who I am."
"Kitty," Doc interrupted, first staring at her, then using his eyes to remind her that the children were also at the supper table. He then directed his attention to the big man at the head of the table, "Oh, shaw, Matt. It isn't like I let her go off t' Pickaxe or somthin'."
"That's thayre's funny, ya old scudder," Festus laughed, his mouth full of mashed potatoes, "Pickaxe," he chuckled under his breath, hoping to lighten the mood.
"We were fine, Daddy," Addie threw her mother a lifeline, "We were barely in Rat Hole Alley. The Gibbons live on the first street and we were only taking Mrs. Gibbons some laundry."
"Adelaide," Matt rested one fist upon the table and the other on his waist, "All of Rat Hole Alley is dangerous. And your mother knows that," he briefly glowered at Kitty before returning his attention to his daughter, "You aren't to ever go there again, young lady. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Daddy. But-"
"No 'buts'," Matt speared a piece of his steak and shoved it into his mouth, chewing furiously.
"Seems your father has spoken," Kitty said, sawing at her steak, refusing to look up.
"Matthew, I know Miz Kitty is jus' tryin' t' lighten the ladies' work around here by takin' the beddin' n' such t' Miz Gibbons," Festus contributed, his mouth now full of biscuit.
"Yes, Son," Doc defended, while he fed Scarlett a tiny piece of steak, "It also helps out Carol Gibbons. Her husband gambled away just about everything they'd worked for. That's how she ended up livin' there in the first place. You may recall once upon a time they had a nice little house on Cherokee Street."
"I can't believe my ears," Matt groused, "I don't want any of my family in Rat Hole Alley. Have I made myself clear?!" he first eyed Kitty, then Doc and Festus.
Cause your girlfriend lives there? Kitty mused, keeping her focus on feeding Maggie some potatoes.
"Iffin' it'd make ya feel better, I kin take th' beddin' out there once a week," Festus sincerely offered. He hated it when the Dillons fought, but especially when they fought in front of the children he loved so deeply.
"Mrs. Gibbons said she'd kindly bring the laundry t' us once she was done and she'd pick up the next load at the same time. I think she must've known Daddy wouldn't approve," Addie shyly explained as she used her fork to push her food around her plate.
"Oh…" Matt sighed, his cheeks turning a light shade of pink.
"Maybe ya shoulda let me finish, huh, Matt?" Kitty stared at him, rapidly batting her ginger eyelashes, her mouth taut.
"I missed ya t'day, Daddy," Ezra innocently announced, "I wanted t' show ya how fast I kin milk Tilly."
"How about you show me t'morrow?" Matt grinned, deciding to change the mood around the table.
"Okay, sure!" Ezra smiled, "She used t' be hard t' catch, but now she comes right t' me."
"That's great news, Son. Great news," Matt examined Kitty from beneath his thick, dark lashes. What did she mean by I've forgotten who she is?
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Kitty had to admit to herself that lately she'd felt off; not quite like her normal self. One minute she was angry with her husband, wondering to where he'd recently been disappearing, and the next minute she was thrilled to see him enter a room. Her mood swings made her feel as if she were two different people, sharing one body. The strange confrontation earlier in the day with Sadie Danko still preoccupied her. Sadie seemed to know to whom Kitty was married. It was like the young saloon gal had wanted an old-fashioned duel, with Matt as the prize. Surely, I'm imagining things, the redhead reflected.
She cocked her head, trying to listen to Matt tell the children one of his bedtime stories. The weary mother had just about finished nursing Maggie when she heard Matt say, "We're gonna try something different tonight. Instead of an Old Days story-"
He was interrupted by grumblings from Adam and Ezra, with Addie and Scarlett remaining quiet as they cuddled together on Matthew's bed. Scarlett yawned, laying her head upon her sister's shoulder.
"What's all the fuss?" Kitty quietly asked as she entered the room, patting the sleeping baby's back as she snuggled against her mother's chest.
"Daddy doesn't want t' tell us an olden days' story," Adam whined, "But we like those best."
"What'cha thinkin', Daddy?" Kitty genuinely smiled at her husband, her eyes full of love.
"First off, where's Matthew?" Matt pursed his lips.
"I'm here," the nine-year-old announced, entering the room ready for bed, "I had t' wait my turn to take a bath. We got too many kids in this house."
As soon as the words had escaped from the boy's mouth, he'd regretted them. He swallowed hard, looking at his precious mother, "Mama, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinkin'," tears filled his blue eyes as his heart pounded in his ears.
"Matthew!" Addie whisper-yelled, tugging on his pajama sleeve.
"It's okay," Kitty smiled as she approached her son. She gently caressed his lightly freckled cheek and patted his chest, just over his heart, "I know you didn't mean anything by it, Matty. Now why don't you climb up top there with Adam, huh?" she weakly grinned.
Matthew solemnly did as instructed, keeping his head lowered in shame.
Kitty took a cleansing breath, redirecting, "So, Matt, what's your idea?"
"Well," he excitedly began, rubbing his hands together, "I want t' start tellin' you all some New Days' stories.
"New Days' stories? What are those?" Addie asked.
"The New Days start from the time your Mama and me got married," Matt smiled at Kitty, his eyes confirming that he'd understood what she'd tried to tell him not all that long ago.
"This oughtta be good," Kitty smirked, "Ezra, may Maggie and I join you?" she nodded to a spot next to the boy on his bottom bunk.
"Sure, Mama," he happily scooted over to make room.
"Oh! I gots a New Days question, Daddy," Adam beamed, turning to lay on his stomach.
"Okay, Son. Ask."
"Well, Mama told me 'bout how she felt when I was borned. Can you tell me about you when I was borned?"
Matt and Kitty's eyes immediately sought each other's. Hers holding panic, his full of nothing but compassion. She ever so slightly shook her head "no", not wanting to remotely give Jude Bonner a place in her head during this special family time.
"I'd like that very much, Adam," he winked at Kitty before returning his attention to his brood. "Mama started having pains late one June night. It was raining somethin' fierce, and she was a little nervous because you were two weeks early."
"That's not as early as Angela," Ezra looked into Kitty's face, "Right, Mama?"
Kitty wrapped her arm around his shoulders, "That's right. She was very early," she whispered, swallowing a tear that rolled down the back of her throat.
"Go on, Daddy," Addie urged, shooting her little brother a chastising look.
"So, the wind was really blowin', and Uncle Festus was in charge of Matty and Addie. They were a little scared because of the storm, but he was able t' keep them calm and put 'em to bed without too much fuss. I stayed by Mama's side the whole time," the big man glanced at Kitty, smiling brightly.
"Where was Grandpa?" Matthew asked.
"He was there, too, but he wanted me to deliver the baby. Said if we were gonna have a houseful, that I'd better get more training."
The children giggled at his reasoning.
"Then…?" Ezra asked, scooting to the edge of his bed.
"Well, Mama worked really hard to get Adam t' be born," Matt searched each child's face like he was telling a dramatic tale, as if they didn't know the outcome, "and then all of a sudden, it was time. Grandpa told me what to do. Mama only had to push for a few minutes and then I was holding Adam in my hands. I actually cried, and I told Mama, 'It's a boy, Honey! A beautiful boy with my color eyes and sadly, my nose.'"
The Dillon offspring howled at that recollection, except for Adam.
"Hey, I like my nose," the Matt Dillon look-a-like protested.
"Your nose is perfect, my middle prince," Kitty confirmed, turning her head upward to smile at her sweet boy.
"I like the New Days' stories almost as much as the Old Days' stories," Addie voiced, "but I'm not so sure about Scarlett," she glanced at the redheaded, snoring toddler who slumped against her side.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, señor Dillon," Luisa stood at the threshold of the room, "but a señor Ritter is here to see you."
Once again, Matt and Kitty's eyes locked.
"I won't be long. I promise. I can't imagine what he wants at this hour," Matt helped Kitty up from the bottom bunk. He kissed Maggie's forehead and glanced around the room, "Time for everyone else t' get t' bed. I'll take Scarlett," he stated, hoisting her into his arms.
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Kitty groaned as she joined Matt in their big brass bed. Much to her chagrin, Scarlett had awakened shortly after having been placed in her bed, crying that she hadn't felt well. As sure as there was a sun and a moon, the toddler had a fever. It had taken two hours, plenty of cool water and countless renditions of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" to lull the child back to sleep.
"She finally settled?" Matt asked, glancing at Kitty over his reading glasses while he scoured the Dodge City Bulletin.
"Yes," she sighed, covering her face with her hands, "I'm so tired," she yawned, "What on Earth did Josiah Ritter want at eight o'clock at night?"
"He wanted t' know if I'd go out with him. He said it would only be a couple of hours, but I told him 'no'. As a matter of fact, I told him I wouldn't be leaving my family at night again unless it involved work," he continued to peruse the paper.
"I'm happy t' hear that, Cowboy," Kitty fluffed her pillow, laying on her side to study her ruggedly handsome man.
"I see here in the paper that Wells Fargo is gonna auction off quite a few of their horses after Christmas. I'm thinkin' about wiring their main office t' see if I can just buy a few outright."
"Think they'd do that?" Kitty stroked his forearm with the back of her hand.
"I dunno. I guess I'll find out soon enough," Matt folded the paper and placed it on his side table, "I still would like to have a discussion about you going to Rat Hole Alley."
"And I would not," Kitty flopped onto her opposite side, turning her back to her husband.
"Kitty, all kinds of low lifes live around there. You don't know what I know," Matt pressed the issue.
She rolled onto her back, "I know Carol Gibbons lives there. She used t' work for me, Matt. Remember Carol Jomax?"
"I think so. She had a baby and then came back t' work for you."
"Yes. Well now she's Carol Gibbons. Her son Pate is in Addie's class," she rolled onto her side to face her husband once more, resting her head upon her bent elbow, "and I also learned something else," she bit her bottom lip.
"What's that?" he lowered the lamp and laid down facing his wife.
"Addie's friend Wendy Jo lives there, too," Kitty whispered into the darkness.
"In Rat Hole Alley? Are ya sure?"
"Yes. And we met her sister…Sadie."
"Oh?" Matt grunted.
"We saw Wendy Jo with Sadie on her way t' work. Seems she works at the Bull's Head," Kitty decided to test the waters.
"How do you know that?" Matt rolled onto his back, folding his hands upon his chest.
"She told me. I suspect she's a working girl."
"Just what exactly did she tell you? And why would she tell you?" the big man restlessly sat up straight, pressing his back into the headboard.
"You seem a little agitated, Matt. You rarely care about gossip," Kitty sat up, staring at him through the darkness.
"Let's cut to the chase, Kathleen. You mentioned to me about Elsa running her mouth. Telling you things that were untrue," he pressed one hand onto her shoulder, squinting to see her expression.
"Ironically, what Elsa said about you had very little effect on me," she crossed her arms under her breasts, rubbing her upper arms as if she'd felt a chill. The nervous redhead studied her lap, "But cherry red lip paint both on your collar and on Sadie Danko's lips gave me cause for concern."
He gently clasped her shoulders, squaring her in front of him, "I beg your pardon? What do you mean?"
"Just what I said, Matt."
He threw the covers toward the edge of the bed, quickly rising to his full height.
"What exactly are you accusing me of, Kitty?" Matt turned up the lamp on his side table.
"You tell me. You seem t' think birthing children and staying home to care for them has left me addled. Well, it hasn't," Kitty stood, facing her husband from her side of the bed, her chest heaving in both fear and anger, "I'm just as sharp as I ever was."
"By all means, continue, Mrs. Dillon," he urged, his open palm reaching out to her.
"I'll just come out and ask, 'cause I'm too tired t' beat around the bush. Are you sleeping with whores, Matt? Like Josiah Ritter is?" she defiantly folded her arms in front of her chest, whispering, "Lots of married men do."
"No! I most certainly am not!" Matt answered through clenched teeth, "I can't believe you asked me that!"
Kitty's face fell and her shoulders slouched, "You've never lied t' me, but lately your behavior is suspect. I'll take your word for it now, but I still think you owe me an explanation about the lip stain on your collar."
"Damn," the big man mumbled as he plopped into one of the chairs in front of the glowing fireplace.
Kitty slowly walked to the bar cart, pouring two hefty servings from the brandy decanter. Pursing her lips, she sauntered toward her husband to deliver the libation.
She placed her snifter on the round, mahogany table in between the two upholstered chairs before tossing two logs onto the dwindling fire, lighting up the room as if it were dawn.
Settling herself in her chair, Kitty swirled the amber liquid and whispered, "Let's have it."
Matt ran his fingers through his salt and pepper locks, taking a sip of his brandy and resting his elbows upon his knees. He began, "I do know Sadie."
"Biblically?" his wife inquired, arching her ginger brows.
"No. As in, casually, from the Bull's Head. I swear to you, Kitty, the girl doesn't even know my name."
"Uh-huh, sure," she rolled her eyes, downing the rest of her brandy.
"I never introduced myself. Anyhow, the night of Jeb's party, I had a little too much t' drink," he slouched in his chair, circling his head on his neck, desperately trying to relax.
The redhead gave him a side eye, "Go on…"
"When I went t' get another round of beers, this young blonde-I'm gonna assume it was this Sadie you met today, kinda cornered me. She kissed me and well…" Matt closed his eyes, biting his bottom lip, "she tried t' get me to go out back."
"Yeah, Clem's got those rooms back there," Kitty nodded, blankly staring at the yellow and orange ribbons devouring the fresh logs.
"She touched me and pulled me out back."
"Touched you?"
"That pretty much got my attention. Kitty, I won't lie t' ya. I did kiss her back. It was like it wasn't me. But when she put her hand on the front of my pants and pulled me to the back door, I knew I needed t' put an end to it quick," Matt placed his hand on top of Kitty's as hers clutched the arm of her chair. He noticed her knuckles were white.
"And did you?" her eyes remained focused on the dancing flames.
"I did," Matt shook his head in the affirmative, "I told her I needed t' get home and then I waited for Josiah to…" he paused, unsure of his next words.
"Finish," Kitty's cold expression finally met her husband's gaze, "I believe the word you're searching for is 'finish.'"
"Okay," Matt's tone became stringent, "I waited for Josiah to finish."
"No wonder Elsa hates me," Kitty mumbled on her way to pour herself another drink.
"What?" he scrunched his face, following her every move.
"Seems Josiah is using us for cover, Matt. Told Elsa I still own the Long Branch and that he's your cover so you can whore around," she firmly placed the crystal stopper into the decanter.
"Are you positive?"
"Absolutely," she made her way over to her chair, "She told me herself. And to add insult t' injury, Elsa's quilting circle found it appropriate to tell her that I used to entertain men and that our daughter is a bastard."
"What?!" Matt shouted as he stood, "How could she listen t' that?! And repeat it to you?! After how nice you've been to her."
"Keep your voice down," she whisper-yelled, pulling on his union suit, "Well, it's not untrue. It's just painful to have people still bring it up. What I'm wondering is how could Josiah lie about you, after how nice you've been t' him? Helping to promote his butcher shop and all."
"I at least understand his lies," the agitated man paced in front of the fireplace, "he's a man trying to cover up his…activities."
"She knows," Kitty flatly stated, "I have a feeling since Bonnie was born, Elsa isn't too eager to have another child," she played with the tie of her flannel nightgown, her expression softening, "and men can't go without. It's easier t' pay for it than to take a lover. Experienced working girls know it's a job, not a romance. But a wife just feels…betrayed."
"It's interesting," Matt whispered, shaking his head.
"What's interesting?"
"That you're someone who can see things from both sides."
"Take that back, Matt Dillon. It hurts more than you know," Kitty rubbed her temples, closing her eyes, "I wish we'd moved away instead of coming back here after Addie was born. How could I have been so naïve t' think my past wouldn't haunt my children?! To think that we would just be treated like a normal family."
"Kitty," Matt kneeled in front of her, "Your past isn't haunting the children. And we are viewed as a normal family. Elsa Ritter is one person."
"People still bring up my past, Matt. People who weren't even here twenty years ago. Elsa heard it at her quilting circle," Kitty's misty eyes searched his, "If the children ever found out, I don't know what I'd do," she softly cried.
"I suppose we can't worry about what people will say about your past, but I can definitely control what people say about me in the present."
"What do you mean?" she sniffled as she wiped her tears from her flushed cheeks with the back of her hand.
"It means my body is staying home and my lips are only kissing one woman. Lord knows what's being said around town about me."
TBC